The Art of Hymn Playing - A step-by-step study of hymn improvisation

The Art of Hymn Playing is a progressive course of study written for those pianists who can play hymns as they are written in the hymnal but would like to decorate them by expanding the chords, adding fill chords, scales, arpeggios and octaves, and extending them to piano solo arrangements. Many children of elementary and high school age, as well as adults, have developed styles of improvising. Piano teachers often include the lessons along with classical music instruction. A learning videotape is included.

The purpose of the course is to teach patterns for both the left and right hands which are applicable to any and all hymns from the hymnal, rather than to teach specific chords and fills to be added only to certain hymns.

The course begins with a very simple left-hand pattern which can be used with all hymns in duple (4/4) time. This pattern is soon enlarged and embellished, with sample hymns for application included in the accompanying supplemental hymnal. The right hand intervals are gradually expanded to chords in a range which will effectively lead a congregation in its singing. This requires some basic theory, also included. (For more comprehensive theoretical study see Principles of Harmony, by the same author.) Along with these most preliminary steps, interesting innovations are introduced which lend already to improvising piano solos.

The early practice in this course is done with hymns for which the harmonies and their changes are shown. Once the basics improvisation patterns are introduced and practiced until they become habitual, the student learns how to analyze the harmonies. This includes detecting those tones which are not chord members and to what extent and how to include them.

The patterns necessary for hymns in triple and compound meters are introduced; the half-note unit is also discussed. As right-hand chords are gradually expanded, special features necessary to accompanying gospel hymns are introduced. When the basic patterns are thoroughly absorbed and become quite natural, decorative styles are introduced: how to use broken chords and arpeggios; patterns which make octave fills (the "evangelistic" style) easy; how to treat the worship type hymns; change of mode; and special effects.  Basic patterns of transposition and modulation are introduced.

The styles which are introduced are quite comprehensive, although to each student some styles will be more appealing than others. One can concentrate on those of particular value while discarding or ignoring others.

The hymns to be studied are included in a supplementary hymnal, actual copies of (public domain) hymns as found in hymnals, which can be written upon as changes of harmony and markings necessary to the preliminary stages of learning are needed. The Art of Hymn Playing Course (w/ video) - $60.00, The Art of Hymn Playing (book only) - $45.00